US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1348

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001348 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/ES-O, EUR/NCE FICHTE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EZ, PREL 
SUBJECT: TFUS01:  CZECH ASSISTANCE RECAP 
 
REF: A. PRAGUE 1318 
 
     B. PRAGUE 1289 
     C. PRAGUE 1287 
     D. STATE 169098 
     E. STATE 166973 
     F. STATE 163366 
     G. USNATO 538 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  Post continues to receive active offers of 
assistance and support from the GOCR, City of Prague, and 
private individuals.  The Ambassador and Foreign Minister 
Svoboda attended a ceremony and press conference on September 
11 marking the first NATO humanitarian assistance mission 
stop in the Czech Republic.  The Ambassador highlighted the 
fourth anniversary of 9/11 and remarked on the overwhelming 
generosity and support from the government and the people of 
the Czech Republic -- then and now.  While the GOCR 
understands that short-term assistance needs decisions have 
been made (reftel A and D), they stand ready to provide 
longer-term assistance needs, including historical and 
archival restoration experts. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
NATO TRANSPORTATION OF ASSISTANCE OFFERS 
---------------------------------------- 
2.  NATO air assets continue to transport USG accepted 
assistance offers from the GOCR (reftel E).  In addition to 
the NATO Boeing 707 transport on September 11 (reftel G) of 
14 large tents and 390 cots (Note: initially all 600 cots 
accepted by the USG were going on that flight but could not 
due to weight restrictions), three NATO German C-160s arrived 
September 15 to pick up the remaining 210 cots and about half 
of the 24,000 blankets.  Two more NATO flights arrived 
September 16 and the final NATO mission will arrive September 
17 for the remaining blankets. 
 
-------------------------------- 
GOCR-CITY OF PRAGUE COORDINATION 
-------------------------------- 
3.  In addition to offers from the GOCR (reftel B), the City 
of Prague approved CZK 16 million (USD 700 million) in 
assistance for Hurricane Katrina relief.  This is separate 
from the GOCR's earlier approval of CZK 25 million (USD 1 
million).  During a September 15 MFA-City Hall meeting, the 
two sides pledged coordination of their resources and 
longer-term assistance offers for Hurricane Katrina relief 
efforts.  The GOCR is considering sending Tomas Pojar, 
Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for 
Bilateral Relations and slated to replace him this fall, to 
Washington and to New Orleans.  MFA informed that the 
delegation would now include City of Prague officials.  Post 
underscored the difficulties of gaining access to the City of 
New Orleans, and urged any such request for visitation to be 
made further down the line. 
 
----------------------- 
OFFERS FROM INDIVIDUALS 
----------------------- 
4.  The following is a recap of individual donations to the 
Hurricane Katrina relief efforts: 
-- ADRA, a local humanitarian NGO, has donated USD 10,000 to 
a Houston-based chapter of the Salvation Army, and is also 
helping the Workers of Louisiana Association for Homeless 
Children.  They also plan to host a benefit concert in 
October, whose proceeds will go to the victims of Hurricane 
Katrina. 
-- A group of Czech jazz musicians, in cooperation of the 
City of Prague, is hosting a Czech-U.S. Jazz Night 
fund-raiser on September 28.  Czech Airlines will fly three 
New Orleans musicians (Brian Seeger, Cassandra Faulconer and 
John Gros) from New York to Prague and back for free.  Post's 
Public Affairs Section will fund their travel to New York, 
and provide accommodations in Prague.  The concert will be 
free to the public and donations will go to a New Orleans 
music association (Tipitina's Foundation in Baton Rouge). 
-- Czech Technical University is offering to help its partner 
Tulane University, with whom they already have a student 
exchange program.  The offer is to host 15 students for the 
2005-2006 academic year.  The Anglo-American College of 
Prague is setting aside scholarship funds to host students 
from Tulane University. 
CABANISS